ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – It has been 15 days since the government shutdown, and government employees who work across the country, and right here in Jacksonville, are feeling the effects as they wait for their next full paycheck.
One local bakery said it wants to make sure our military community knows that, during this uncertain time, they are loved and seen.
Pie Heaven Bakery Cafe at 1980 Mayport Road in Atlantic Beach is just a 6-minute drive away from Naval Station Mayport.
The bakery owner, Anita Hyde, decided days ago that she wanted to help military families by doing what she does best: Making pies.
Hyde and her little shop have been whipping up dozens of chicken pot pies, free of charge, for families in need.
Anyone who is in need of a pot pie can call ahead or go to the shop and pick one up for free.
“I didn’t think too much into it,” said Hyde, talking about how she decided to make free pies for military families. “I just have so much compassion for them and they’re right down the street from us.”
And her compassion is contagious. She said customers are calling in to order a pie for their own family, and then offering to buy one for a military family, as well.
A woman visiting the store while News4JAX was there said her family wanted to support Hyde’s business after seeing a post on the store’s Facebook page about the free pies.
“He’s retired military, and I’m former military, and we’ve been in this situation before with the shutdown, and we wanted to help,” Jennifer Bable said. “We wanted to support the business.”
Hyde said the response from the community has made it all worth it.
“Their gratitude is just really touching. I mean, this touches their heart to know that people care,” Hyde said.
She credits her faith as the reason she’s stepping up the only way she knows how.
“I can’t pay all of their bills, but I can at least give them a pie,” Hyde said. “I’m a Christian. Jesus would do that.”